Natural Products for Cancer Prevention/Management (16)

Burdock Root (Gobo Root)

The long root of burdock (Gobo root) is a commonly used vegetable and has also been used as a folk medicine in Japan and in China, Korea, and China for years. Gobo root is now available in many grocery stores in the U.S.  It is also believed that gobo root kills germs and also increases urine flow, thus it has been used to treat cold and high blood pressure. Burdock roots have been used as a folk medicine for diabetes, joint pain, and cancer.

Burdock roots contain arctiin, luteolin and quercetin. Arctiin is a polyphonic substance found in plants. It is reported to be anticancer in vitro and in animal models. Luteolin is a flavonoid that is also reported to be anticancer in vitro and could be useful in cancer prevention.

© Jiajiu Shaw, 2017

Disclaimer: This blog is written solely for informational purposes. It does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other medical professional health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All contents posted are extracted from the book I wrote, "IS CANCER IN US", published recently.

Natural Products for Cancer Prevention/Management (9)

Quercetin

Quercetin is a representative flavonoid found in many plants including citrus fruit, tea, onion, and apples. Quercetin has been made in capsule form as a dietary supplement for quite some time. It has been shown to have several beneficial biological/pharmaceutical effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer.

Most of the research on quercetin and cancer has been done in cell culture (in vitro studies) or animal studies (in vivo studies). One must be cautious that these studies are not equivalent to human clinical trials. In vitro studies indicate that quercetin can slow the growth of some cancer cells. Clinical studies indicate its involvement in tyrosine kinase inhibition but there is no solid clinical evidence indicating that quercetin can prevent or treat cancer.

Some studies suggested potential protective value for quercetin in prostatitis (inflamed prostate), heart disease, and cancer. However, it is not clear what role quercetin played in their findings. All these sound exciting; however, further clinical studies are needed before any scientific conclusions can be made. Nevertheless, it is not a bad idea to include foods that contain quercetin as part of a balanced diet with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

© Jiajiu Shaw, 2016

Disclaimer: This blog is written solely for informational purposes. It does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other medical professional health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All contents posted are extracted from the book I am writing, "IS CANCER IN US", to be published in about two months.

Natural Products for Cancer Prevention/Management (8)

Quercetin

Quercetin is a representative flavonoid found in many plants including citrus fruit, tea, onion, and apples. It has been shown to have several beneficial biological/pharmaceutical effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer. Quercetin has been made in capsule form as a dietary supplement for quite some time.

  

Most of the research on quercetin and cancer has been done in cell culture (in vitro studies) or animal studies (in vivo studies). One must be cautious that these studies are not equivalent to human clinical trials. In vitro studies indicate that quercetin can slow the growth of some cancer cells. Clinical studies indicate its involvement in tyrosine kinase inhibition but there is no solid clinical evidence indicating that quercetin can prevent or treat cancer.

Some studies suggested potential protective value for quercetin in prostatitis (inflamed prostate), heart disease, and cancer. However, it was not clear what role quercetin played in their findings. All these sound exciting; however, further clinical studies are needed before any scientific conclusions can be made. Nevertheless, it is not a bad idea to include foods that contain quercetin as part of a balanced diet with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

© Jiajiu Shaw, 2016

Disclaimer: This blog is written solely for informational purposes. It does not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other medical professional health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All contents posted are extracted from the book I am writing, "IS CANCER IN US", to be published in about two months.